2019 Audi A6 Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　

What's new

Completely redesigned for 2019New infotainment systemNew V6 mild hybrid powertrainPart of the fifth A6 generation introduced for 2019

　　The Audi A6 is all-new for 2019, representing the fifth generation of the midsize luxury sedan. In many ways, the 2019 A6 performs and behaves on the road just like its predecessor. And that's just fine by us since both provide a good mix of sporty handling and comfort.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Audi A6 2.0 TFSI Premium quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$171/mo  for A6 2.0 TFSI Premium quattro

　　A6 2.0 TFSI Premium quattro

　　2.0 TFSI Premium quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) - $54,100 MSRP2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) - $57,800 MSRP3.0 TFSI Premium quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) - $58,900 MSRP3.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) (Most Popular) - $62,700 MSRP3.0 TFSI Prestige quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) - $67,100 MSRP

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　The big news is the amount of technology that brings the A6 up to date. Audi has given the V6 powertrain a new 48-volt mild hybrid component that increases fuel economy by 2 mpg. There are also a lot of additions related to advanced safety features and infotainment. Unfortunately, the new MMI system is now based on a dual-touchscreen setup, and we've found it's more distracting to use (taking the driver's attention from the road ahead) than the old system.

　　Otherwise, the 2019 Audi A6 is a solid choice for a midsize luxury sedan. Compared to its main rivals, the BMW 5 Series and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, this A6 is pleasantly understated and packed with more tech-based features.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

8.2 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Audi A6 Prestige (turbo 3.0L V6 | 7-speed dual-clutch automatic | AWD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	8.2 / 10
Driving	9.0
Comfort	7.5
Interior	8.0
Utility	7.0
Technology	9.0

　　

Driving

9.0

　　Our A6 test vehicle had some special options such as sticky Pirelli summer tires and a sport suspension. As such, its performance was very impressive. Steering, handling and in-town drivability were just as good. This midsize luxury sedan has a decidedly sporty feel.

　　

Acceleration

9.0

　　Acceleration doesn't feel particularly explosive, yet this car is one of the quickest in the segment. There is excellent passing power at any speed. Zero to 60 mph at the zzdcar test track took 4.8 seconds — one of the best times in the segment.

　　

Braking

9.0

　　Braking is excellent thanks to a strong pedal response and linear braking feel. During a simulated-panic stop at the zzdcar test track, the A6 came to a stop from 60 mph in just 103 feet — a distance so short, it's typically reserved for lightweight sports cars, made all the more incredible by the Audi's 4,330-pound curb weight. But remember our test car had the summer-rated tires; all-season tires will likely result in average braking performance.

　　

Steering

8.0

　　In the Comfort driving mode, there's very quick turn-in, a good centering action and a light effort. Switch to Dynamic and steering just gets a little bit heavier — a bonus for back-road driving. The A6 is easy to maneuver in parking lots despite the car's overall length.

　　

Handling

9.0

　　The A6 has astonishingly high handling limits for such a big car, especially considering it's the A6, not the S6. At high speeds, there's ample capability to get you around long sweeping corners. In quick changes of direction, it copes well, too.

　　

Drivability

8.5

　　The A6's 48-volt mild-hybrid system is barely perceptible. It assists with the engine auto stop-start and some highway cruising. At low speeds, the A6 is easy to drive, boasting parking-lot agility that the larger A8 doesn't quite have. Full-throttle shifts from the transmission are extremely smooth.

　　

Comfort

7.5

　　While the A6 is certainly comfortable, our test car made some compromises for performance. The lowered sport-tuned suspension and 21-inch wheels gave it a rougher ride than standard and introduced some road noise. Otherwise, the 18-way adjustable front seats are extremely comfortable and the climate controls work quickly.

　　

Seat comfort

8.5

　　The optional Individual Contour seating package means that our A6 had heated and ventilated front seats with upgraded leather upholstery. They are supportive and comfortable on long drives and also keep you secure when zipping around turns. The outboard rear seats are also comfortable.

　　

Ride comfort

7.5

　　The sport suspension and the 21-inch wheels on our test vehicle impacted ride quality a bit. Small bumps that would normally be shrugged off seemed to make their way into the cabin, even though they weren't entirely harsh. Comfort levels are acceptable, but we'd recommend skipping those options if comfort is a priority.

　　

Noise & vibration

7.0

　　The optional summer tires cause some significant road noise, but it's nothing the stereo can't drown out at relatively low levels. Wind noise is minimal. Our test car had no obvious vibrations or rattles.

　　

Climate control

7.5

　　The touchscreen climate controls take a bit of learning, but once you've got them down they're intuitive. Set a temp around 72 degrees and the cabin stays cool even in direct sunlight. You can also have as many as four different temps set for the individual zones. The heated seats warm up quickly as well.

　　

Interior

8.0

　　The new MMI system can seem daunting at first, but most tech-savvy users will get the hang of it after a few days. Once that happens, everything inside the cabin becomes very easy to use. Otherwise, the A6 gets top marks for a highly adjustable driving position and a very roomy cabin.

　　

Ease of use

8.0

　　The sheer number of screens in this cabin can be overwhelming, but the controls are intuitive after just a short time. Everything is at arm's length, with a few redundant controls for high-priority tasks. The ability to set your own favorite buttons is a nice addition.

　　

Getting in/getting out

7.5

　　The seats and the seating position are a bit low. Depending on the driver's height, it can take some effort to get out, but the door openings are wide in both front and back. Taller passengers will need to duck a bit but not much more than they would in other luxury sedans in this class.

　　

Driving position

8.0

　　While the driver's seat can feel a bit low, the driving position gives you good access to all the relevant controls. The steering wheel adjustment range is plentiful, as is the adjustment from the Individual Contour front seats.

　　

Roominess

8.5

　　Front and rear seats alike have plenty of headroom and legroom for 6-footers (or taller) in all four of the main seating positions. Shoulder room is also above-average, and the armrests are ideally located. The A6's cabin is spacious without feeling airy or overwhelmingly large.

　　

Visibility

7.5

　　The windshield pillars are thick and can block forward views. Also, the slim windows combined with the high rear decklid means that rear visibility is also limited. The rearview camera, however, is crisp and clear, and the parking sensors are highly accurate.

　　

Quality

9.0

　　One of the Audi's most attractive character traits is its build quality. Interior surfaces are excellent to the eye and to the touch while exterior panel gaps are all consistent. Even up against rivals from BMW and Mercedes, the Audi still feels top-notch.

　　

Utility

7.0

　　The A6 gets average scores when it comes to utility. It's useful enough for a group of four adults or a small family, but the trunk is on the small side and small-item storage is limited. Most car seats will fit in the rear without issue.

　　

Small-item storage

7.0

　　Small-item storage is limited but that's typical for the class. The center console is adequate and the door bins are relatively slender. However, there is sufficient storage for a few smartphones. The cupholders are a decent size as well.

　　

Cargo space

6.5

　　With just 13.7 cubic feet of cargo space in the trunk, the A6 falls behind most major competitors. The trunk is relatively deep, so long boxes or items should fit OK. A low liftover height helps when you're loading heavy items.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

7.0

　　Most car seats will fit well in the A6. There are four easy-to-locate and accessible LATCH points in the rear outboard seating positions. But installing a car seat can prove difficult because of the A6's low roofline.

　　

Technology

9.0

　　An impressive combination of driver aids, an astonishing stereo, and seamless smartphone integration make the Audi a leader when it comes to in-car tech. Lots of standard safety features and a long list of unique optional safety aids help it stand out.

　　

Audio & navigation

10.0

　　A 16-speaker sound system is standard; our Prestige test car had the upgraded 19-speaker system. It sounds great and produces astonishingly crisp audio at any volume. Using the system is a bit tough, but that's reflected in the "ease of use" score. Navigation is excellent thanks to crisp-looking screens in multiple locations.

　　

Smartphone integration

9.5

　　Connect your phone via Bluetooth or USB and you get quick access to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Connections are quick and easy to manage, and there's available wireless smartphone charging as well.

　　

Driver aids

8.5

　　On the top-trim Prestige you get an abundance of active and passive safety features. These include Audi's Pre Sense Side and Pre Sense Rear that prepare the car for an impending collision. Other features such as blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise work well. During our test, we experienced no false positives.

　　

Voice control

9.5

　　Voice controls are excellent — natural language is very easy to use. You can control audio, navigation, radio stations and other systems, and accuracy is near-perfect.

　　

Which A6 does zzdcar recommend?

　　Our pick is the midgrade Premium Plus trim for the items you get on top of the base Premium model. In particular, the larger infotainment screen makes operation just a little bit less distracting. On top of that, the Premium Plus trim is eligible for more options that include luxury seating and advanced safety features.

　　

2019 Audi A6 models

　　The 2019 Audi A6 is available in three trim levels: the well-appointed base Premium, the Premium Plus, which comes with some tech upgrades, and the top-of-the-line Prestige trim. The Premium and Premium Plus models come standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (248 horsepower, 273 lb-ft of torque). Optional for those and standard on the Prestige is a  turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 (335 hp, 369 lb-ft) paired to a 48-volt mild hybrid system that assists with automatic stop-start and allows the gasoline engine to shut off for brief highway periods. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system are standard.

　　Standard features for the Premium trim include 19-inch wheels, LED headlights, heated and auto-dimming mirrors, a panoramic sunroof, automatic wipers, front and rear parking sensors, keyless remote entry, selectable drive modes, frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, tri-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated power-adjustable front seats, driver-seat memory functions, and 40/20/40-split folding rear seats.

　　On the tech side, you also get an 8.8-inch main infotainment touchscreen, an 8.6-inch lower touchscreen, four USB ports, a universal garage door opener, Audi Connect Plus (emergency telematics, vehicle monitoring, advanced map functions, and a Wi-Fi hotspot), a navigation system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 10-speaker audio system with satellite radio. Four-cylinder models also include power-folding mirrors, which are included in the V6's Convenience package.

　　The available Convenience package adds a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic and vehicle-exit alerts, keyless entry and ignition, a hands-free trunk release, and a wireless charging pad with signal booster. V6-powered models also add power-folding mirrors, while four-cylinder versions gain a heated steering wheel.

　　The Premium Plus trim includes all of the above, along with automatic high-beam headlights, a digital instrument panel, a larger 10.1-inch main touchscreen, a surround-view camera, enhanced voice controls, and a 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.

　　To this, you can add the V6's Warm Weather package that includes quad-zone automatic climate control, rear window sunshades, ventilated front seats, and additional lumbar adjustments for the front passenger seat. The four-cylinder's Executive package is essentially the same but swaps the sunshades for multicolor ambient lighting.

　　The range-topping Prestige model comes with the Warm Weather package, as well as upgraded headlights, soft-close doors, a head-up display, multicolor ambient interior lighting, manual rear passenger sunshades, and dual-pane acoustic glass.

　　All A6 trims are eligible for rear-seat side airbags and 20-inch wheels that also come with a sport-tuned suspension. V6 models are also eligible for a Cold Weather package with heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel.

　　The Premium Plus and the Prestige can be further outfitted with the Individual Contour Seating package, which bundles premium leather upholstery and upgraded front seats with heating, ventilation and massage. There's also the Driver Assistance package with lane keeping assist, side collision warning, a traffic sign reader, and adaptive cruise control with Traffic Jam Assist.

　　Twenty- or 21-inch wheels are optional (the 20s can also be bundled with a sport-tuned suspension and summer-rated tires). Other notable options include an adaptive suspension with rear-wheel steering, a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium audio system, and a night-vision system.

　　Jump to:Related 2019 A6 articles

　　

2019 A6 Highlights

Trim: 2.0 TFSI Premium quattro2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro3.0 TFSI Premium quattro3.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro3.0 TFSI Prestige quattro2.0 TFSI Premium quattro

　　

Base MSRP	$54,100
Engine Type	Mild hybrid
Combined MPG	27 MPG
Cost to Drive	$171/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	13.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles